CONFIDENTIAL
bringing
different types of citizenship, making them into
line
consistent with rights of entry and abode under the
Immigration Acts. In these circumstances, to apply
citizenship of the UK to persons resident in the
Dependent Territories would be inconsistent (the
use of the shortened formula 'Citizen of the
United Kingdom Colonies' would not be acceptable
because it could be confused with the earlier
formula).
3. The Lord Privy Seal, at the Secretary of
State's request, attended a special meeting with
the Home Secretary on 9 June to discuss the problem.
Mr Whitelaw confirmed the Home Office's agreement
to the use of three categories of citizenship
rather than two, thus making clear the special
status of the Dependent Territories as opposed
to British Overseas Citizens. The Lord Privy
Seal then argued Hong Kong's case strongly.
He pointed out the depth of concern in Hong Kong
and the inter-relation of this issue with
others in Anglo/Hong Kong relations.
In
particular he supported the idea of the
retention of the prefix 'British Subject',
probably in conjunction with 'Citizen of British
Dependent Territories'. This was important in
order to emphasise the continuing link with
Britain.
4.
The Home Secretary was not prepared to
agree to the retention of 'British Subject'.
Home Office legal advice was that this would blur
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